HC Deb 07 July 1992 vol 211 cc105-6W
Mr. Rooney

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on type approval as relating to motor cycles.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Many representations have been received on EC type-approval, mostly from private individuals, but also from representative organisations and industry. Apart from questioning the need for type-approval, they stressed, among other things, that customisation, low-volume manufacturers and sale of second-hand machines should be protected. Some went on to advocate that type-approval should apply only to the original design of a motor-cycle and not to machines in use. While supporting the principle of EC type-approval, industry stressed that much more time was needed to bring the scheme into operation. The Government took up these and other points during EC negotiations, and are now content that the main concerns of the motor-cycle user and industry are met in the type-approval framework directive as adopted on 30 June.

Mr. Rooney

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the need for leg protectors for motor cyclists.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Many representations have been received on this matter, mostly from private individuals, but also from representative organisations and industry. The majority are opposed to leg protectors, and many reflect the view of the motor-cycle industry that they could increase injuries to other parts of the body, particularly the head. The Government's response to industry criticism has been in the form of a research paper by the Transport Research Laboratory (working paper WP/VS/213: "TRL Review of Research on Motorcycle Leg Protection— 1991"). Among other things, it concludes that all the evidence to date, and there is much of it covering a very wide range of conditions, shows the TRL-designed leg protectors to be successful in achieving their objectives of reducing leg injuries without increase of other injuries, while being compatible with the production of motor-cycles. I have arranged for a copy of the TRL review to be placed in the Library today.

Mr. Rooney

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has has with the EC regarding type approval for motor cycles.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Full discussions were held in Council prior to the adoption of the EC motor-cycle type-approval framework directive on 30 June. A further 23 Commission proposals for the separate directives that will constitute EC motor-cycle whole-vehicle type-approval are yet to be considered by Council.